COLUMBUS, Ohio — A group of local religious leaders and pastors have organized a walk in the Short North on Friday in an effort to fight back against recent violence.
They are calling the walk, "A Cry at Midnight." It will begin Friday, June 28, at midnight and go until 2 a.m. The pastors are meeting near the intersection of North High Street and East Fourth Avenue.
“Our presence serves as a supervision. We aren’t community policing or playing police nor patrol. We have what is a positive presence of parental care,” said Pastor Eddie Parker III, from Word Church of God In Christ.
The pastors hope their presence can deter crime and reach people where they are.
“The city can throw millions of dollars at crime but it’s really going to make a difference when parents, citizens, residents step in and say 'no, this is unacceptable,'” said Bishop John Coats, president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.
They want to be a part of making Columbus an even better city.
“Be a part of solving the problem, be a part of the solution,” said Coats.
“If we all take a community back, we can take our city back,” said Parker.
For Marvin McGowan, it’s about valuing life. He wants people to know that others in the community care and want to be there to help make a change.
“Just to be a source of support for these young people and let them know their lives matter. They don’t have to use violence to get attention,” said McGowan.
Pastor Parker said people often wonder when and where the faith community is stepping up to help the city. He said they always have and always will, but they need more support.
“We cannot continue to do the same thing over again and expect a different outcome. We have to get involved and it's more than just the faith community, it's everyone and anybody that cares,” said McGowan.